50 of Our Favorite Paranormal Romance Novels

For fans of Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses, look no further than Jennifer Armentrout’s Blood and Ash series. The perfect blend of romance and fantasy, From Blood and Ash follows the maiden Poppy as she looks to save her kingdom. Accompanied by the hotheaded guard Hawke, Poppy will do anything she can to ensure the safety of her people. But what happens when she is tempted by fate?

Charlie Hall is trying to distance herself from the powerful and dangerous underground world of shadow trading, but she can’t seem to escape this maelstrom of doppelgängers, thieves, and magic. Manipulating shadows has a cost, and Charlie is about to be swept up in a battle for its secrets. Holly Black’s adult dark fantasy debut is everything you loved about The Cruel Prince series, now for adults. 

A young scribe is thrust into an elite war college for dragon riders where the only rule is graduate or perish. An addictive fantasy with epic levels of spice and world-building.

A fast-paced fantasy adventure you will not be able to put down. This one plays out an intense, sexy spin on the enemies-to-lovers trope with a sapphic romantic backstory. There’s fae, elves, magic, sword fighting, morally grey characters, as well as LGBTQIA and indigenous representation – what’s not to love?!

Dark romantasy that delivers on all the goods while also packing in plenty of mysteries and secrets to keep the plot surging through a gorgeous fantasy world. And it’s just the first in the series, so get comfortable, because there’s a lot more to come.

At its core, An Education in Malice will appeal to fans of dark academia and dark romances. This Dracula retelling is dizzying and seductive, offset by genuine human emotion. It’s perfect for fans of The Atlas Six or House of Hunger.

The entire kingdom is in danger and monsters abound! Two Twisted Crowns has all the dark fantasy staples that made you fall in love with the series alongside women’s empowerment and an atmospheric overtone.

A remarkable debut fantasy inspired by Southeast Asian mythology, Hurricane Wars features an enemies-to-lovers romance, incredible world-building and a unique magic system. It’s everything you love about romantasy in one delectable package.

A gothic fantasy of immense quality, this is the story of a dying town and the people still living there. It’s Opal’s search for a home, for a life, for anything other than what she was born into. Written with exacting prose, this is a gorgeous story from a gifted writer.

The second of the Empire of the Vampire series sees a dramatic increase in the narrative tension. With bloody battles and Gabriel facing bigger threats than ever before, it’s a riveting, action-packed adventure with much more to come.

A warm and cozy fantasy that’s similar in tone to Legends & Lattes, this is the story of an unexpected (and unexpectedly spicy) monster romance that turns up the heat in more ways than one.

Sarah J. Maas is the queen of writing faerie fantasy, and House of Earth and Blood is no exception. When half-Fae Bryce Quinlan’s best friend is brutally murdered by an unknown demon, she will stop at nothing until she gets revenge. Add a fallen angel to the mix and you have a dark fantasy with a fiery romance. The twist is unexpected at the end, so make sure you pick up the second book in the Crescent City series too!

A champion of romantasy, Kerri Maniscalco is back with her adult debut set in her massively popular Kingdom of the Wicked. This time centered on the Prince of Envy, going adult allows Maniscalco to deliver more sex and more romance—and deliver she does.

The opener of the Temeraire series is a thrilling, epic fantasy steeped in history. It’s the Napoleonic Wars, but with dragons, and if that doesn’t get you, it’s character-driven, dropping deeply human players onto a deadly and addictive stage.

Magic and nature spirits run wild in this vividly imagined fantasy filled with lyrical prose and lush world-building. It’s beautiful and mysterious and steeped in Scottish-inspired myth and lore. With multiple character perspectives that help to shape a brilliant portrait of an otherworldly isle, this atmospheric read will leave you utterly enchanted.

Where the Shades of Magic series begins, with V. E. Schwab’s dynamic prose and her unmatched prowess for character development. Alongside parallel worlds, splendid magic and propulsive adventure, this is a sure hook.

This breathtaking fantasy interweaves the stories of three powerful women, all of whom have something to prove. Shannon’s worldbuilding is phenomenal in Priory of the Orange Tree and is brought to life with her vivid imagery and attention to detail. This book is a fantastic read for anyone who loves fantasy, dragons and intriguing characters. Don’t be intimidated by the page count!

What if the fairy tale is nothing but a lie? Red knows her destiny: to be sacrificed to The Wolf of the Wood to save her kingdom. But then she learns the truth … This fractured fairy tale retelling of “Little Red Riding Hood” is spectacular — a perfect recommendation for fans of Naomi Novik’s Uprooted or Spinning Silver or the The Winternight trilogy (The Bear and the Nightingale, The Winter of the Witch and The Girl in the Tower) by Katherine Arden.

This is the first in an epic fantasy trilogy that’s filled with death magic, court intrigue, and a tangled love triangle. Necromancy, morally grey characters, and forbidden romance keep the tension high in this spellbinding read.

Combining the tension of an addictive dark fantasy with compelling magic and a propulsive mystery, The Coven has all the staples of a delicious paranormal romance. It has vampires and witches and a satisfying dose of steam.

Forbidden romance, mystery, murder and vampires all take center stage in this lushly atmospheric fantasy set in sultry 19th-century New Orleans. When 17-year-old Celine flees Paris for life in a convent in New Orleans, she soon becomes enthralled by a dark and dangerous underworld known as La Cour des Lions led by the notorious Sébastien Saint Germain. This first book in the captivating The Beautiful series will leave you — dare we say, bloodthirsty — to pick up the next.

Richly imagined and mysteriously atmospheric, Once Upon a Broken Heart is the first book in an enthralling new fantasy series from Caraval author Stephanie Garber. This twisty, dreamy tale is perfect for fans of fairytales and fairytale retellings alike.

A gothic romance following a girl with Death constantly hovering nearby, Belladonna is the gripping story full of wealth, desire, and betrayal that will sweep readers up in its haunting tale from the very beginning!

In a world where vampires are treated like celebrities, people vie for coveted spots as live-in blood donors at one of five vampire houses. Except that Renie’s sister excitedly entered the Belle Morte house months ago … and hasn’t been heard from since. This contemporary paranormal story fraught with secrets, mystery, and of course, vampires is a fresh spin on a classic trope.

Set in the same world as Shelby Mahurin’s beloved Serpent & Dove series, The Scarlet Veil is an equally dark and riveting ‘romantasy’ perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas.

Intoxicating and thrilling, Kingdom of the Wicked is a dark fantasy about a girl who will stop at nothing to get revenge. When a devious wrath offers Emilia assistance in taking down whoever killed her sister, Emilia must decide how far she is willing to go. For fans of murder mysteries and gothic settings, this book is perfect.

High-concept epic fantasy at its finest, To Kill a Shadow takes all the romantasy tropes you love — enemies-to-lovers, star-crossed lovers — adds in a feminist twist, and capably engages in themes of reincarnation and subverting destiny. With two main characters you’ll love to root for, this is an easy story to get lost in.

If you’re in dire need of a good swooning, look no further. Powerless is a dynamic romantasy built around a forbidden love and set in an unforgiving world. With alternating POVs to pad the romantic tension, this is a delicious kick-off to an exciting trilogy.

Crave has all the feels of a classic paranormal romance, with a relatable heroine, a bad-boy hero and prose that makes this story easy to sink into. And this exclusive edition features never-before-seen content that goes even deeper into the darkness!

If you’re caught up in the realm of witchy rom-coms, then rejoice, because Sarah Hawley has a fresh twist — a demon. Perfect for fans of Payback’s A Witch and The Ex Hex, this debut is magical, romantic and just plain fun.YB

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is a welcome addition to the witchy landscape, providing an uplifting, fun and romantic millennial story that is packed with charm and magic. With a diverse cast and deep relationships, it’s an endearing and cozy read sure to warm your heart.

The title tells you all you need to know about the concept. This is a fun and fresh take on the fish-out-of-water trope, with a delightful balance between heart, humor, suspense and romance. It’s a smooth read from start to finish.

One of the core witchy rom-com titles, The Ex Hex is a paranormal rom-com with a millennial twist. It’s built on the perfect blend of spooky, fantasy and romance, set in a grounded world, and spiraling from an unfortunate hex gone wrong.

The 15th installment in the Harmony series comes with all the hallmarks you love — a great sense of humor, paranormal romance and a meshing of timelines all serving to build out the propulsive plot. Great for anyone already devoted to the series and also an entry point for curious newcomers.

Exceptionally unique, this alien-abduction-turned-romance is equally heart-throbbing love interest and survival on an icy planet. Meshing romantasy and science fiction to great effect, this will appeal to fans of Sarah J. Maas and V. E. Schwab.

The 13th installment in the Leopard series, featuring feline shapeshifters and their mates. This paranormal romance is riddled with action and twists to keep the pages turning.

Where the Night Huntress series begins. A vengeful quest through the undead turns into an unexpected and spicy partnership. If you love paranormal romances with vampires galore, you’ve found your next obsession.

This dark fantasy series with a spicy paranormal romance at its core is perfect for readers who love a good vampire. Opposites attract in this improbable love story saturated with a strong narrative voice and all the steam you could ask for.

This fractured fairy tale packs the hot, hot heat. It’s a dark romantasy page-turner with a strong cast of characters and the kinds of tropes you love in this space — forced proximity, enemies to lovers and more.

A dark fantasy with roots in Celtic mythology and a certain sultry suspense. It is a unique set of components but it equates to a page-turning, otherworldly journey built on a character in search of her strength. And if you like it, load up on the rest of the series.

That feeling when you can’t take your eyes off someone. That feeling transferred to reading a romance that features vampires. Need we say more? Look deeply as you turn the pages, and turn the pages and turn the pages.

The list of all the reasons to love this book is long. It’s a dark, sexy paranormal romance with sea monsters, pirates and a high-seas adventure. And the plot is so thick with stakes and tension that it is impossible to put down.

The first in Nora Roberts’ Dragon Heart Legacy Series, The Awakening is a supernaturally charged story so rich in magic that you’ll be grounded in this gorgeous world before you know it. With a cliffhanger ending, you’ll want to make sure you have book two on deck.

The massive and sprawling Argeneau Vampire series has reached installment 36, packing all the suspense and paranormal romance you could ever hope for. With a combination of humor and heat, this is a series that’s easy to get addicted to.

Where the Guild Hunter series begins, this urban, female-led fantasy centers on two dynamic lead characters with a tense and satisfying romantic arc. It’s a paranormal romance steeped in a satisfying fantasy realm populated by angels, archangels, vampires and so much more.

This erotic vampire romance is not for the faint of heart. Your blood will be pumping double-time to this fast-paced enemies-to-lovers fantasy with a strong female protagonist.

A high-heat dark fantasy with a steamy, slow-burn romance, Pestilence takes one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse and adds a twist — love. This unique tale is great for readers of Katee Robert and Scarlett St. Clair.

An urban paranormal romance with a heaping of heat. With sexy vampires to populate the combination of sultry romance and scintillating adventure, this is a darkly addictive read.

Atmospheric, dark and unique, Gothikana embodies dark academia with all the genre staples and then some. This is a macabre school story with a steamy gothic romance at its core.